EFFINGHAM BRUSHFIRE BURNS FIVE KAYAKS

THE CHIEF OF THE EFFINGHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT TOOK ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO PUT OUT A BRUSHFIRE IN EFFINGHAM EARLY MONDAY AFTERNOON.

RANDY BURBANK SAYS HIS FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLED TO A RESIDENCE AT 501 PROVINCE LAKE RD. – ROUTE 153 – SHORTLY AFTER 1:20 P.M.

THE FIRE APPARENTLY STARTED IN A PILE OF TRASH IN THE HOMEOWNER’S BACKYARD AND QUICKLY SPREAD – THE CHIEF SAYS CONDITIONS WERE “TINDER DRY.”

THE FIRE GREW TO A SIZE OF ABOUT 100 SQ. FEET BEFORE FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO PUT IT OUT. BURBANK SAYS THE EFFORT WAS MADE MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE AND HEAT CAUSED BY FIVE PLASTIC KAYAKS ON THE GROUND THAT BURNED.

FIREFIGHTERS REMAINED ON SCENE ABOUT 45 MINUTES AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT TO OVERHAUL IT.

THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDETERMINED. NO ONE WAS HURT.

FIREFIGHTERS FROM FREEDOM, CENTER OSSIPEE AND OSSIPEE CORNER – AND AN AMBULANCE FROM OSSIPEE VALLEY EMS ASSISTED AT THE SCENE. WAKEFIELD FIREFIGHTERS PROVIDED STATION COVERAGE.